CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/254,043, filed Feb. 10, 2003, now abandoned, entitled DOMESTIC WATER LEAK AUTOMATIC DETECTION AND CONTROL.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
In modern society, efforts are ongoing to prevent or lessen environmental impacts to homes resulting from unwanted water leaks or excess humidity in a respective home from outside sources or from a leaking domestic water supply system in the home.
The present invention relates to a novel domestic water leak and humidity detection andcontrol apparatus8 having at least a first sensor set10 having at least oneleak detector12 connected to a central controller; the central controller having at least a first comparator set14 associated with a first LED set70 and the first comparator set having a cumulating aural buzzer contact V1 and having a cumulating water valve contact V2. In operation, either a high voltage state or a low voltage state exists at said buzzer contact V1 and either a high voltage state or a low voltage state exists at said water valve contact V2; the respective voltage states control anaural buzzer136 and control awater valve184.
A principal objective of the present invention is making available to users a domestic water leak and humidity detection and control apparatus that is robust, durable, and easy to use; is inexpensive to manufacture; and is easy to emplace in a home or other structure or location to monitor and detect unwanted water leaks and to alert the user by an aural buzzer and by illuminated green, red, or yellow LEDs of the operative state of the apparatus and to control water leaks originating from a domestic water supply by electrically controlling a water valve emplaced in the domestic water supply.
Additional objectives of the present invention are to provide a robust apparatus that will monitor specific selective locations for water leaks, humidity, or water presence and to provide an apparatus that does not require any field adjustments by an installer of the apparatus or by a home owner or other user of the apparatus and that is more convenient and easier to use than prior art domestic water leak detection systems.
The invention is a novel domestic water leak and humidity detection andcontrol apparatus8 having at least a first sensor set10 having at least oneleak detector12 connected to a central controller; the central controller having at least a first comparator set14 and at least a first LED set70; the apparatus powered by a power supply; and the central controller connected to and controlling anaural buzzer136 and awater valve184.
One ormore leak detectors12 form a sensor set and in the best embodiment of the invention, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, there are six sensor sets10,2010,3010,4010,5010, and6010 connected to a central controller and the central controller controls the aural buzzer and the water valve. In the central controller, each sensor set is connected to a respective comparator set and each such comparator set is connected to a respective LED set. Each comparator set controls an associated LED set and the cumulative output of the comparator sets in the central controller controls an aural buzzer and also controls an electrical water valve.
In the best embodiment, the central controller is a printed circuit board having components connected by traces.
Leak detectors12 can be placed at selected locations throughout a home or other structure or location to enable the apparatus to monitor for the presence of unwanted water or water leaks.
In the best embodiment of the invention in a home, one or more leak detectors would be distributed throughout the home and placed in each location that a user considered at risk of suffering from a water leak or unwanted water such as in close proximity: to appliances that interact with water (water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and ice makers), to sinks, to bathtubs, to showers, to toilets, to faucets, to bidets, and to other selected locations such as attics, crawl spaces, garages, or basements or other selected areas of the home.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide aleak detector12 that after having detected a leak and being wet can be easily reconditioned and restored to an operative dry condition.
Additional and various other objects and advantages attained by the invention will become more apparent as the specification is read and the accompanying figures are reviewed.
FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a domestic water leak and humidity detection andcontrol apparatus8;
FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of the domestic water leak and humidity detection andcontrol apparatus8 shown inFIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of apreferred leak detector12;
FIG. 4 is a perspective assembled view of theleak detector12 shown inFIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of a first embodiment of the domestic water leak and humidity detection andcontrol apparatus8 shown inFIG. 1 having at least a first sensor set10 operatively connected to a first comparator set14, the first comparator set having afirst comparator46, asecond comparator52, athird comparator58, and afourth comparator64 and the first comparator set operatively connected to a first LED set70, the first LED set having agreen LED circuit72, ayellow LED circuit94, and ared LED circuit114; and showing afourth comparator output124 of the fourth comparator controlling anaural buzzer136 and awater valve184 and showing a cumulating aural buzzer contact V1 and a cumulating water valve contact V2;
FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a second sensor set2010 operatively connected to asecond comparator set2014, the second comparator set having afirst comparator2046, asecond comparator2052, athird comparator2058, and afourth comparator2064 and the second comparator set operatively connected to asecond LED set2070, the second LED set having agreen LED circuit2072, ayellow LED circuit2094, and ared LED circuit2114; and showing the cumulating aural buzzer contact V1 and the cumulating water valve contact V2;
FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram of a third sensor set3010 operatively connected to athird comparator set3014, the third comparator set having afirst comparator3046, asecond comparator3052, athird comparator3058, and afourth comparator3064 and the third comparator set operatively connected to athird LED set3070, the third LED set having agreen LED circuit3072, ayellow LED circuit3094, and ared LED circuit3114; and showing the cumulating aural buzzer contact V1 and the cumulating water valve contact V2;
FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of a fourth sensor set4010 operatively connected to afourth comparator set4014, the fourth comparator set having afirst comparator4046, asecond comparator4052, athird comparator4058, and afourth comparator4064 and the fourth comparator set operatively connected to afourth LED set4070, the fourth LED set having agreen LED circuit4072, ayellow LED circuit4094, and ared LED circuit4114; and showing the cumulating aural buzzer contact V1 and the cumulating water valve contact V2;
FIG. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of a fifth sensor set5010 operatively connected to afifth comparator set5014, the fifth comparator set having afirst comparator5046, asecond comparator5052, athird comparator5058, and afourth comparator5064 and the fifth comparator set operatively connected to afifth LED set5070, the fifth LED set having agreen LED circuit5072, ayellow LED circuit5094, and ared LED circuit5114; and showing the cumulating aural buzzer contact V1 and the cumulating water valve contact V2; and
FIG. 10 is a schematic circuit diagram of a sixth sensor set6010 operatively connected to a sixth comparator set6014, the sixth comparator set having afirst comparator6046, asecond comparator6052, athird comparator6058, and afourth comparator6064 and the sixth comparator set operatively connected to asixth LED set6070, the sixth LED set having agreen LED circuit6072, ayellow LED circuit6094, and ared LED circuit6114; and showing the cumulating aural buzzer contact V1 and the cumulating water valve contact V2.
FIGS. 1,2,5 to9, show the preferred embodiment of the water leak detection andcontrol apparatus8. The preferred embodiment has six sensor sets, each sensor set operatively associated with a respective comparator set, each comparator set operatively associated with a respective LED set and the voltage state at the cumulating aural buzzer V1 controlling theaural buzzer136 and the voltage state at the cumulating water valve contact V2 controlling the water valve.
As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, preferably, eachleak detector12 comprises a firstconductive metal grid20 overlaid by aporous insulating layer22 that previously was impregnated with a sodium chloride solution or another salt solution and dried and the insulating layer overlaid by a secondconductive metal grid24; the grids and the insulating layer are sandwiched within aporous sleeve26. Preferably, the porous insulatinglayer22 and theporous sleeve26 are fabricated from porous felt or other suitable fabric or material.
For eachleak detector12 in each sensor set10,2010,3010,4010,5010,6010, the respective firstconductive metal grid20 is connected to a respectivefirst wire28,2028,3028,4028,5028,6028 and the first wire at one end is connected to aground trace30 of the central controller and the respective secondconductive metal grid24 is connected to a respectivesecond wire32,2032,3032,4032,5032,6032 and the second wire is connected at one end to a respectivesignal voltage trace34,2034,3034,4034,5034,6034 of the central controller; a respective terminatingresistor38,2038,3038,4038,5038,6038 connects the other end of the first wire to the other end of the second wire; the respective signal voltage trace is connected in series to a respectivesignal voltage resistor36,2036,3036,4036,5036,6036 and the signal voltage resistor is connected in series to a 15v source voltage of the central controller; and the terminating resistor has the same resistance as the signal voltage resistor.
As shown inFIG. 5, the central controller has a 15v source voltage and has two reference voltages of 10v and 5v in the best embodiment generated by a set of threevoltage divider resistors40,42, and44; each voltage divider resistor having the same resistance connected in series between the 15v source voltage and ground.
In each comparator set14,2014,3014,4014,5014,6014, a respectivefirst comparator46,2046,3046,4046,5046,6046 has a first comparatornegative input pin48,2048,3048,4048,5048,6048 which is connected to the 5v reference voltage and a first comparatorpositive input pin50,2050,3050,4050,5050,6050 which is connected to the respectivesignal voltage trace34,2034,3034,4034,5034,6034 associated with the respective sensor set.
In each comparator set14,2014,3014,4014,5014,6014, a respectivesecond comparator52,2052,3052,4052,5052,6052 has a second comparatornegative input pin54,2054,3054,4054,5054,6054 which is connected to the respectivesignal voltage trace34,2034,3034,4034,5034,6034 associated with the respective sensor set and a second comparatorpositive input pin56,2056,3056,4056,5056,6056 which is connected to the 10v reference voltage.
In each comparator set14,2014,3014,4014,5014,6014, a respectivethird comparator58,2058,3058,4058,5058,6058 has a third comparatornegative input pin60,2060,3060,4060,5060,6060 which is connected to the 10v reference voltage and a third comparatorpositive input pin62,2062,3062,4062,5062,6062 which is connected to the respectivesignal voltage trace34,2034,3034,4034,5034,6034 associated with the respective sensor set.
In each comparator set14,2014,3014,4014,5014,6014, a respectivefourth comparator64,2064,3064,4064,5064,6064 has a fourth comparatornegative input pin66,2066,3066,4066,5066,6066 which is connected to the respectivesignal voltage trace34,2034,3034,4034,5034,6034 associated with the respective sensor set and a fourth comparatorpositive input pin68,2068,3068,4068,5068,6068 which is connected to the 5v reference voltage.
EachLED set70,2070,3070,4070,5070,6070 has respectively a green LED, a yellow LED, and a red LED; and each LED is controlled by a respective LED circuit.
In eachrespective LED set70,2070,3070,4070,5070,6070, agreen LED circuit72,2072,3072,4072,5072,6072 has agreen LED74,2074,3074,4074,5074,6074 with an associated green LED current limitingresistor76,2076,3076,4076,5076,6076; a greenLED inverting driver78,2078,3078,4078,5078,6078; a green LED pull-up resistor80,2080,3080,4080,5080,6080 connected from the 15v source voltage to a firstcomparator output pin82,2082,3082,4082,5082,6082 of the associated first comparator and to a secondcomparator output pin84,2084,3084,4084,5084,6084 of the associated second comparator and a green LED invertingdriver input pin86,2086,3086,4086,5086,6086 of the green LED inverting driver; the green LED current limiting resistor is connected from the 15v source voltage to a green LEDpositive terminal88,2088,3088,4088,5088,6088 of the green LED; and a green LEDnegative terminal90,2090,3090,4090,5090,6090 of the green LED is connected to a green LED invertingdriver output pin92,2092,3092,4092,5092,6092 of the green LED inverting driver.
In eachrespective LED set70,2070,3070,4070,5070,6070, ayellow LED circuit94,2094,3094,4094,5094,6094 has: ayellow LED96,2096,3096,4096,5096,6096 with an associated yellow LED current limitingresistor98,2098,3098,4098,5098,6098; a yellowLED inverting driver100,2100,3100,4100,5100,6100; a yellow LED pull-up resistor102,2102,3102,4102,5102,6102 connected from a 15v source to a thirdcomparator output pin104,2104,3104,4104,5104,6104 of the associated third comparator and to a yellow LED invertingdriver input pin106,2106,3106,4106,5106,6106 of the yellow LED inverting driver; the yellow LED current limiting resistor is connected from a 15v source voltage to a yellow LEDpositive terminal108,2108,3108,4108,5108,6108 of the yellow LED; and a yellow LEDnegative terminal110,2110,3110,4110,5110,6110 of the yellow LED is connected to a yellow LED invertingdriver output pin112,2112,3112,4112,5112,6112 of the yellow LED inverting driver.
In eachrespective LED set70,2070,3070,4070,5070,6070, ared LED circuit114,2114,3114,4114,5114,6114 has ared LED116,2116,3116,4116,5116,6116 with an associated red LED current limitingresistor118,2118,3118,4118,5118,6118; a redLED inverting driver120,2120,3120,4120,5120,6120; a red LED pull-up resistor122,2122,3122,4122,5122,6122 connected from a 15v source voltage to a fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 of the associated fourth comparator and to a red LED invertingdriver input pin126,2126,3126,4126,5126,6126 of the red LED inverting driver; the red LED current limiting resistor is connected from a 15v source to a red LEDpositive terminal128,2128,3128,4128,5128,6128 of the red LED; and a red LEDnegative terminal130,2130,3130,4130,5130,6130 of the red LED is connected to a red LED invertingdriver output pin132,2132,3132,4132,5132,6132 of the red LED inverting driver.
With respect to eachfourth comparator64,2064,3064,4064,5064,6064 of each comparator set, a buzzer control circuit comprises a respectivebuzzer inverting driver134,2134,3134,4134,5134,6134 having a buzzer invertingdriver input pin138,2138,3138,4138,5138,6138 connected to the fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 of the respective fourth comparator and the respective buzzer inverting driver having a buzzer invertingdriver output pin140,2140,3140,4140,5140,6140 connected through a cumulating aural buzzer contact V1 to anegative terminal142 of anaural buzzer136; and apositive terminal144 of the aural buzzer connected to the 15v source voltage. For each respective buzzer control circuit in the central controller, the output pin of the respective associated buzzer inverting driver is connected to thebuzzer136 through the cumulating aural buzzer contact V1.
With respect to eachfourth comparator64,2064,3064,4064,5064,6064 of each comparator set, a respective watervalve inverting driver146,2146,3146,4146,5146,6146 participates in controlling a watervalve controlling circuit148. A respective water valve invertingdriver input pin150,2150,3150,4150,5150,6150 is connected to the fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 of the respective fourth comparator and a respective water valve invertingdriver output pin152,2152,3152,4152,5152,6152 is connected through a cumulating water valve circuit contact V2 to abase154 of aNPN transistor162 of a water valve controlling circuit. For each respective water valve inverting driver in the central controller, the respective water valve inverting driver output pin is connected to the water valve controlling circuit through the cumulating water valve circuit contact V2.
The watervalve controlling circuit148 comprises a current driver (7805A)156, acapacitor158, a watervalve circuit resistor160, and atransistor162 and abase154 of the transistor is connected to the cumulating water valve circuit contact V2 and anemitter164 of the transistor is connected to ground, and acollector166 of the transistor is connected to afirst side168 of the water valve circuit resistor, afirst side170 of the capacitor, and a current drivernegative terminal172 of the current driver; and the current driver has a currentdriver output pin174 connected to asecond side176 of the water valve circuit resistor and the current driver has a current driverpositive terminal178 connected to asecond side180 of the capacitor and a water valvenegative terminal182 of awater valve184, and the water valve has a water valvepositive terminal186 connected to a 15v source voltage.
Referring toFIGS. 5 to 10, a description of the operative states of the apparatus follows: first with a discussion of a normal state (leak detector dry with no water leak present); second with a discussion of an open sensor state (first wire, second wire, first conductive metal grid, or second conductive metal grid not intact); and third with a discussion of a leak detection state (leak detector wet with a water leak or excess humidity present).
When in the normal state with eachleak detector12 dry and eachfirst wire28,2028,3028,4028,5028,6028, eachsecond wire32,2032,3032,4032,5032,6032, each firstconductive metal grid20, and each secondconductive metal grid24 intact; the 15v source voltage is divided equally by each respectivesignal voltage resistor36,2036,3036,4036,5036,6036 and each respective terminatingresistor38,2038,3038,4038,5038,6038 to produce a voltage of 7.5 volts at each respectivesignal voltage trace34,2034,3034,4034,5034,6034; each respective first comparatorpositive input pin50,2050,3050,4050,5050,6050 is connected to the 7.5 volts present at each respective signal voltage trace and each respective first comparatornegative input pin48,2048,3048,4048,5048,6048 is connected to the 5v reference voltage establishing a forward bias in each respective first comparator and each respective first comparator outputs a high state voltage at each respective firstcomparator output pin82,2082,3082,4082,5082,6082; each respective second comparatorpositive input pin56,2056,3056,4056,5056,6056 is connected to the 10v reference voltage and each respective second comparatornegative input pin54,2054,3054,4054,5054,6054 is connected to the 7.5 volts present at each respective signal voltage trace establishing a forward bias in each respective second comparator and each respective second comparator outputs a high state voltage at each respective secondcomparator output pin84,2084,3084,4084,5084,6084; each respective third comparatorpositive input pin62,2062,3062,4062,5062,6062 is connected to the 7.5 volts present at each respective signal voltage reference trace and each respective third comparatornegative input pin60,2060,3060,4060,5060,6060 is connected to the 10v reference voltage establishing a reverse bias in each respective third comparator and each respective third comparator outputs a low state voltage at each respective thirdcomparator output pin104,2104,3104,4104,5104,6104; each respective fourth comparatorpositive input pin68,2068,3068,4068,5068,6068 is connected to the 5v reference voltage and each respective fourth comparatornegative input pin66,2066,3066,4066,5066,6066 is connected to the 7.5 volts present at each respective signal voltage trace establishing a reverse bias in each respective fourth comparator and each respective fourth comparator outputs a low state voltage at each respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124; each respective green LED invertingdriver input pin86,2086,3086,4086,5086,6086 receives a high state voltage from each respective firstcomparator output pin82,2082,3082,4082,5082,6082 and each respective secondcomparator output pin84,2084,3084,4084,5084,6084 and each respective green LED inverting driver outputs a low state voltage at each respective green LED invertingdriver output pin92,2092,3092,4092,5092,6092 allowing current to flow through each respectivegreen LED74,2074,3074,4074,5074,6074 illuminating the respective green LED; each respective yellow LED invertingdriver input pin106,2106,3106,4106,5106,6106 receives a low state voltage from each respective thirdcomparator output pin104,2104,3104,4104,5104,6104 and each respective yellowLED inverting driver100,2100,3100,4100,5100,6100 outputs a high state voltage at each respective yellow LED invertingdriver output pin112,2112,3112,4112,5112,6112 not allowing current to flow through each respectiveyellow LED96,2096,3096,4096,5096,6096 (each respective yellow LED does not illuminate); each respective red LED invertingdriver input pin126,2126,3126,4126,5126,6126 receives a low state voltage from each respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 and each respective redLED inverting driver120,2120,3120,4120,5120,6120 outputs a high state voltage at each respective red LED invertingdriver output pin132,2132,3132,4132,5132,6132 not allowing current to flow through each respectivered LED116,2116,3116,4116,5116,6116 (each respective red LED does not illuminate); each respective buzzer invertingdriver input pin138,2138,3138,4138,5138,6138 receives a low state voltage from each respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 and each respectivebuzzer inverting driver134,2134,3134,4134,5134,6134 outputs a high state voltage at each respective buzzer invertingdriver output pin140,2140,3140,4140,5140,6140 (each buzzer inverting driver output pin is connected to the buzzer through the cumulating aural buzzer contact V1) not allowing current to flow through the buzzer136 (the buzzer does not buzz); each respective water valve invertingdriver input pin150,2150,3150,4150,5150,6150 receives a low state voltage from each respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 and each respective watervalve inverting driver146,2146,3146,4146,5146,6146 outputs a high state voltage at each respective water valve invertingdriver output pin152,2152,3152,4152,5152,6152; and theNPN transistor base154 receives the high state voltage from each respective water valve inverting driver output pin through the cumulating water valve circuit contact V2, and theNPN transistor162 allows current to flow from the current driverpositive terminal178 to the currentdriver output pin174 drawing current through thewater valve184 whereby the water valve is kept open to allow water to flow through the water valve.
In the watervalve controlling circuit148 and during initialization of the normal state, current is allowed to flow through thewater valve184 to develop a charge on thecapacitor158. The summed value of the capacitor charging current and the current driver current is sufficient to open thewater valve184 and after initialization the current driver current is sufficient to hold the water valve open.
The open sensor state exists in arespective sensor set10,2010,3010,4010,5010,6010 when a respectivefirst wire28,2028,3028,4028,5028,6028, a respectivesecond wire32,2032,3032,4032,5032,6032, a respective firstconductive metal grid20, or a respective secondconductive metal grid24 is not intact; in the open sensor state, the 15v source voltage is not conveyed to ground through a respective terminatingresistor38,2038,3038,4038,5038,6038 and produces a voltage of 15 volts at the respectivesignal voltage trace34,2034,3034,4034,5034,6034; the respective first comparatorpositive input pin50,2050,3050,4050,5050,6050 is connected to the 15 volts present at the respective signal voltage trace and the respective first comparatornegative input pin48,2048,3048,4048,5048,6048 is connected to the 5v reference voltage establishing a forward bias in the respective first comparator and the respective first comparator outputs a high state voltage at the respective firstcomparator output pin82,2082,3082,4082,5082,6082; the respective second comparatorpositive input pin56,2056,3056,4056,5056,6056 is connected to the 10v reference voltage and the respective second comparatornegative input pin54,2054,3054,4054,5054,6054 is connected to the 15 volts present at the respective signal voltage trace establishing a reverse bias in the respective second comparator and the respective second comparator outputs a low state voltage at the respective secondcomparator output pin84,2084,3084,4084,5084,6084; the respective third comparatorpositive input pin62,2062,3062,4062,5062,6062 is connected to the 15 volts present at the respective signal voltage reference trace and the respective third comparatornegative input pin60,2060,3060,4060,5060,6060 is connected to the 10v reference voltage establishing a forward bias in the respective third comparator and the respective third comparator outputs a high state voltage at the respective thirdcomparator output pin104,2104,3104,4104,5104,6104; the respective fourth comparatorpositive input pin68,2068,3068,4068,5068,6068 is connected to the 5v reference voltage and the respective fourth comparatornegative input pin66,2066,3066,4066,5066,6066 is connected to the 15 volts present at the respective signal voltage trace establishing a reverse bias in the respective fourth comparator and the respective fourth comparator outputs a low state voltage at the respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124; the respective green LED invertingdriver input pin86,2086,3086,4086,5086,6086 receives a high state voltage from the respective firstcomparator output pin82,2082,3082,4082,5082,6082 and a low state voltage from the respective secondcomparator output pin84,2084,3084,4084,5084,6084; the low state voltage from the respective second comparator output pin pulls the high state output of the respective first comparator pin to a low state and the respective green LED inverting driver outputs a high state voltage at the respective green LED invertingdriver output pin92,2092,3092,4092,5092,6092 not allowing current to flow through the respectivegreen LED74,2074,3074,4074,5074,6074 and not illuminating the respective green LED; the respective yellow LED invertingdriver input pin106,2106,3106,4106,5106,6106 receives a high state voltage from the respective thirdcomparator output pin104,2104,3104,4104,5104,6104 and the respective yellowLED inverting driver100,2100,3100,4100,5100,6100 outputs a low state voltage at the respective yellow LED invertingdriver output pin112,2112,3112,4112,5112,6112 allowing current to flow through the respectiveyellow LED96,2096,3096,4096,5096,6096 illuminating the respective yellow LED; the respective red LED invertingdriver input pin126,2126,3126,4126,5126,6126 receives a low state voltage from the respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 and the respective redLED inverting driver120,2120,3120,4120,5120,6120 outputs a high state voltage at the respective red LED invertingdriver output pin132,2132,3132,4132,5132,6132 not allowing current to flow through the respectivered LED116,2116,3116,4116,5116,6116 (the red LED does not illuminate); the respective buzzer invertingdriver input pin138,2138,3138,4138,5138,6138 receives a low state voltage from the respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 and the respectivebuzzer inverting driver134,2134,3134,4134,5134,6134 outputs a high state voltage at the respective buzzer invertingdriver output pin140,2140,3140,4140,5140,6140 (each buzzer inverting driver output pin is connected to the buzzer through the cumulating aural buzzer contact V1) not allowing current to flow through the buzzer136 (the buzzer does not buzz); the respective water valve invertingdriver input pin150,2150,3150,4150,5150,6150 receives a low state voltage from the respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 and the respective watervalve inverting driver146,2146,3146,4146,5146,6146 outputs a high state voltage at the respective water valve invertingdriver output pin152,2152,3152,4152,5152,6152; theNPN transistor base154 receives the high state voltage from the water valve inverting driver output pin through the cumulating water valve circuit contact V2, and theNPN transistor162 allows current to flow from the current driverpositive terminal178 to the currentdriver output pin174 drawing current through thewater valve184 whereby the water valve is kept open to allow water to flow through the water valve.
The leak detection state exists in arespective sensor set10,2010,3010,4010,5010,6010 when one ormore leak detectors12 of the respective sensor set are wet; and a respectivefirst wire28,2028,3028,4028,5028,6028, a respectivesecond wire32,2032,3032,4032,5032,6032, a respective firstconductive metal grid20, and a respective secondconductive metal grid24 are intact; in the leak detection state, the respectivesignal voltage trace34,2034,3034,4034,5034,6034 is connected to theground trace30 through the respective conducting wet leak detector to produce a voltage of less than five volts at the signal voltage trace; the respective first comparatorpositive input pin50,2050,3050,4050,5050,6050 is connected to the less than five volts present at the respective signal voltage trace and the respective first comparatornegative input pin48,2048,3048,4048,5048,6048 is connected to the 5v reference voltage establishing a reverse bias in the respective first comparator and the respective first comparator outputs a low state voltage at the respective firstcomparator output pin82,2082,3082,4082,5082,6082; the respective second comparatorpositive input pin56,2056,3056,4056,5056,6056 is connected to the 10v reference voltage and the respective second comparatornegative input pin54,2054,3054,4054,5054,6054 is connected to the less than five volts present at the respective signal voltage trace establishing a forward bias in the respective second comparator and the respective second comparator outputs a high state voltage at the respective secondcomparator output pin84,2084,3084,4084,5084,6084; the respective third comparatorpositive input pin62,2062,3062,4062,5062,6062 is connected to the less than five volts present at the respective signal voltage reference trace and the respective third comparatornegative input pin60,2060,3060,4060,5060,6060 is connected to the 10v reference voltage establishing a reverse bias in the respective third comparator and the respective third comparator outputs a low state voltage at the respective thirdcomparator output pin104,2104,3104,4104,5104,6104; the respective fourth comparatorpositive input pin68,2068,3068,4068,5068,6068 is connected to the 5v reference voltage and the respective fourth comparatornegative input pin66,2066,3066,4066,5066,6066 is connected to the less than five volts present at the respective signal voltage trace establishing a forward bias in the respective fourth comparator and the respective fourth comparator outputs a high state voltage at the respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124; the respective green LED invertingdriver input pin86,2086,3086,4086,5086,6086 receives a low state voltage from the respective firstcomparator output pin82,2082,3082,4082,5082,6082 and a high state voltage from the respective secondcomparator output pin84,2084,3084,4084,5084,6084; the low state voltage from the respective first comparator output pin pulls the high state output of the respective second comparator pin to a low state and the respective green LED inverting driver outputs a high state voltage at the green LED invertingdriver output pin92,2092,3092,4092,5092,6092 not allowing current to flow through the respectivegreen LED74,2074,3074,4074,5074,6074 and not illuminating the respective green LED; the respective yellow LED invertingdriver input pin106,2106,3106,4106,5106,6106 receives a low state voltage from the respective thirdcomparator output pin104,2104,3104,4104,5104,6104 and the respective yellowLED inverting driver100,2100,3100,4100,5100,6100 outputs a high state voltage at the respective yellow LED invertingdriver output pin112,2112,3112,4112,5112,6112 not allowing current to flow through the respectiveyellow LED96,2096,3096,4096,5096,6096 (the respective yellow LED does not illuminate); the respective red LED invertingdriver input pin126,2126,3126,4126,5126,6126 receives a high state voltage from the respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 and the respective redLED inverting driver120,2120,3120,4120,5120,6120 outputs a low state voltage at the respective red LED invertingdriver output pin132,2132,3132,4132,5132,6132 allowing current to flow through the respectivered LED116,2116,3116,4116,5116,6116 illuminating the respective red LED; the respective buzzer invertingdriver input pin138,2138,3138,4138,5138,6138 receives a high state voltage from the respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 and the respectivebuzzer inverting driver134,2134,3134,4134,5134,6134 outputs a low state voltage at the respective buzzer invertingdriver output pin140,2140,3140,4140,5140,6140 (each buzzer inverting driver output pin is connected to the buzzer through the cumulating aural buzzer contact V1) allowing current to flow through the buzzer136 (the buzzer buzzes); the respective water valve invertingdriver input pin150,2150,3150,4150,5150,6150 receives a high state voltage from the respective fourthcomparator output pin124,2124,3124,4124,5124,6124 and the respective watervalve inverting driver146,2146,3146,4146,5146,6146 outputs a low state voltage at the respective water valve invertingdriver output pin152,2152,3152,4152,5152,6152; theNPN transistor base154 receives the low state voltage from the respective water valve inverting driver output pin through the cumulating water valve circuit contact V2, and theNPN transistor162 does not allow current to flow through thewater valve184 and the water valve closes.
A sensor set may have one leak detector as shown inFIGS. 5,9, and10 or two or more leak detectors as shown inFIGS. 1,6,7, and8.
Preferably, the apparatus will have six sensor sets, but the apparatus may have fewer or more sensor sets. In the apparatus, each sensor set has one or more leak detectors and a terminating resistor; each respective sensor set is connected between a ground trace and a respective signal voltage trace of a central controller; the central controller receives a source voltage from a power supply; the central controller has a high reference voltage and a low reference voltage; the central controller has a respective comparator set associated with each respective sensor set and has a respective LED set having three LED circuits associated with each respective comparator set; each respective comparator set has a first comparator, a second comparator, a third comparator, and a fourth comparator; each respective fourth comparator has a respective fourth comparator output pin associated with each respective sensor set; each respective fourth comparator output pin is connected to an aural buzzer through a cumulating aural buzzer contact and connected to a water valve control circuit though a cumulating water valve contact; and the water valve control circuit controls a water valve.
After aleak detector12 detects a leak or moisture by becoming wet, the leak detector can be reconditioned by a simple process of drying the leak detector after first wetting the leak detector with a sodium chloride solution or other suitable salt solution to ensure the presence of the salt in the insulatinglayer22 when the detector is dry.
Preferably, the first wires, the second wires, and the other wires that connect the power supply and the water valve to the central controller are low voltage copper wire.
In the best embodiment of the apparatus, the power supply is a conventional power adapter connected to a standard 115v source to provide power to a 15v rail of the central controller that supplies power to the central controller, to the sensor sets, to the aural buzzer, and to the water valve. The apparatus could also function properly with a power source of a reasonable voltage other than 15 volts.
In the best embodiment of the apparatus, each inverting driver is one channel of one of a sufficient number of Toshiba TD62084AP eight channel darlington sink drivers.
In the best embodiment of the apparatus, each comparator is one channel of a National Semiconductor LM339AN quad comparator.
In the best embodiment of the apparatus, the transistor in the water valve control circuit is a Panasonic 2SD1275A darlington pair.
In the best embodiment of the apparatus, the current driver in the water valve control circuit is a Fairchild LM7805A positive voltage regulator.
In the best embodiment of the apparatus, thewater valve184 is an off the shelf spring actuated normally closed valve that is open when power is supplied to the valve by the water valve control circuit.
The preceding description and exposition of the invention is presented for purposes of illustration and enabling disclosure. It is neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations in the invention in light of the above teachings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted to the breath to which they fairly, legitimately and equitably are entitled.
